StationBreak May 2015

Teacher Appreciation Week

National Teacher's Day is approaching, so we would like to wish you all a wonderful teacher appreciation week. Thank you for all that you do for Arkansas students. In the first week of May, we also celebrate National Nurse's Week, with National School Nurse's Day May 6. As May also includes Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day, this edition of StationBreak will highlight many great resources for teaching about the various ways in which veterans, teachers, and school nurses are important in the educational lives of students.

Featured resources this month include professional development courses from the social studies library, relevant AETN programming, and AETN PBS LearningMedia resource collections, which include lesson plans, media galleries, and videos you can use in your classroom.

May 1 - May Day, Mother Goose Day, Space Day

May 2 - Brothers & Sisters Day

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo and Teacher's Day

May 6 - School Nurse's Day

May 10 - Mother's Day

May 13 - Frog Jumping Day

May 14 - Dance Like A Chicken Day

May 15 - National Chocolate Chip Day

May 16 - Armed Forces Day

May 18 - Visit Your Relatives Day

May 20 - Pick Strawberries Day

May 25 - Memorial Day

May 30 - Water A Flower Day

May 31 - World No Tobacco Day

StationBreak informs you about upcoming AETN programming, professional development opportunities from ArkansasIDEAS, and educational resources from AETN and AETN PBS LearningMedia.

News from ArkansasIDEAS

Big changes are coming to ArkansasIDEAS! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for timely updates.

A New LMS for ArkansasIDEAS Online PD!Have you heard the news? ArkansasIDEAS is transitioning to a new learning management system (LMS)! You told us what you wanted, and we listened. This new LMS will provide teachers with many new features, including new courses, additional technology offerings, easier navigation, and a fresh new design that is mobile friendly.

Here are a few things to note regarding this transition:

All current ArkansasIDEAS coursework in the old system must be completed by May 31, 2015.

Beginning June 1, 2015, all coursework will occur in the new LMS, accessible at ideas.aetn.org.

You will still be able to log into the old system to retrieve transcripts for previous coursework.

Training webinars will be available beginning in June.

If you are currently enrolled in the Disciplinary Literacy Option or the Arkansas History Option and you need assistance transitioning into the new LMS, please contact the help desk.

If you have any questions or concerns during this transition please contact our help desk by email at ideas@aetn.org or by phone at 800-488-6689.

Beta Testers Needed!If you are a certified Arkansas teacher who would like to participate in the beta testing of the new LMS, you may start taking courses now. Contact us at ideas@aetn.org for instructions on how to register as a beta tester.

TESS DeadlineDon't forget that you have until May 31, 2015, to finish the free TESS coursework through ArkansasIDEAS. Access the modules, and find out more information here.

ArkansasIDEAS Online PD

Parental Involvement Online PD – TeachersArkansasIDEAS presents a new online course for licensed educators. This course, which was recorded on January 15, 2015, at Western Yell County High School in Havana, Arkansas, features Dr. Beverley Romanin, former teacher and administrator and expert parent involvement consultant. The presentation features an overview of Dr. Joyce Epstein's Six Components of Parental Involvement, which include the concepts of parenting, communicating, volunteering, students learning at home, school decision-making, and collaborating with the community.

Parental Involvement Online PD – AdministratorsArkansasIDEAS presents a new online course for administrators. This course, which was recorded on January 20, 2015, at the AETN studios in Conway, Arkansas, features Dr. Beverley Romanin, former teacher and administrator and expert consultant on parental involvement programs. The presentation, which is geared toward administrators, features an overview of Dr. Joyce Epstein's Six Components of Parental Involvement, which include the concepts of parenting, communicating, volunteering, students learning at home, school decision making, and collaborating with the community.

AASCD - Five Levers: Leadership and Administration Online PDArkansasIDEAS presents a new online course for licensed educators. In this AASCD presentation, Dr. Tony Frontier focuses on Five Levers for Learning that can unlock the potential for lasting improvement in teaching and learning. Dr. Frontier based this presentation on the Frontier/Marzano book: Five Levers to Improve Learning: How to Prioritize for Powerful Results in Your School and provides page numbers and the PowerPoint used during this one hour course.

These professional development resources and more can be found at ideas.aetn.org.

AETN in Arkansas Communities

AETN reaches out to Arkansas through programs and partnerships across the state to share AETN, PBS and PBS KIDS resources that offer lifelong learning:

Quiz Bowl 2015Congratulations to all of the Arkansas Governor's Quiz Bowl Competition champions! The AGQBA celebrated its 30th year with the broadcast of "Arkansas Quiz Bowl 2015" state finals on Saturday, April 25. Click here to find out more information and see the tournament results.

2015 AETN PBS KIDS Writers Contest WinnersAfter lots of thinking — a little bit of nail-biting, tons of giggling, and some very tough decisions — we're proud to announce the winners of the 2015 AETN PBS KIDS Writers Contest! Three winners from each grade have been selected, and each first place-winning story will be sent on to PBS KIDS to represent Arkansas in the national Writers Contest.

Student Selects Films Entered in LRFF "Made in Arkansas" CompetitionFor the first time in the nine-year history of both Student Selects and the Little Rock Film Festival, high school student filmmakers will be part of the "Made in Arkansas" Competition. Four student films − "Loser," "The Pop N' Lock," "Pyro," and "Go to the Ball With Me, Jenny" − will compete alongside some of The Natural State's best filmmakers May 11-17.

Little Rock Film Festival Youth WorkshopsDo you know a middle or high school student with an interest in filmmaking? On May 12-13 the Little Rock Film Festival and AETN are hosting filmmaking workshops and screenings that offer Arkansas's youngest filmmakers the opportunity to learn from the state's best filmmakers, meet the nation's finest storytellers, screen their very own films, and be part of Arkansas's fastest growing film festival. Contact Casey Sanders, LRFF Youth! and Education Coordinator at csanders@aetn.org for more information.

AETN Youth Academy 2015Starting to make summer plans for your family? Kids can learn how inventions can make the world a better place in two free AETN Youth Academy camps this summer! Sign up now to join us for "Get Moving Challenge" camps in June and the "Speedy Shelter Challenge" camps in July.

Tonya Parham, 2015 PBS LearningMedia Digital InnovatorCongratulations to Tonya Parham of Marion Middle School! AETN and ArkansasIDEAS are thrilled to announce that Ms. Parham, who teaches seventh grade science, was one of 100 educators nationwide selected as a 2015 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator. PBS Digital Innovators were selected for their passion and commitment to innovative teaching practices that integrate digital media and technology in the classroom.

Southwest Junior High School Student Wins 2015 National Geographic State BeeCongratulations to Sojas Wagle, the eighth grade Southwest Junior High School student in Springdale who won the 2015 National Geographic State Bee! Wagle will represent Arkansas as fourth- to eighth-graders from across the nation vie to win the 27th annual National Geographic Bee and a top prize of a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Bee finals will air on AETN Sunday, May 17, at 4:30 p.m.

AETN Programing

National Geographic Bee 2015The annual National Geographic Bee returns for the 27th consecutive year. This year, award-winning journalist, speaker, producer and television host Soledad O'Brien will serve as host and moderator. The 2015 National Geographic Bee will feature fourth- to eighth-graders vying for the Bee crown and the top prize of a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. Second and third prizes are college scholarships of $15,000 and $10,000. The finalists, all winners of their state-level geographic bees, have triumphed over a field of nearly 4 million students to earn a place in the national championships. They represent the 50 states, District of Columbia, Atlantic Territories, Pacific Territories and Department of Defense Dependents Schools. Airs Sunday, May 17, at 4:30 p.m.

Lincoln Awards: A Concert for Veterans & The Military FamilyEnjoy a concert in celebration of the Lincoln Awards, which recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in providing opportunities and support to veterans and military families. Airs Friday, May 22, at 8 p.m.

Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House
President and Mrs. Obama host a PBS music special from the White House, with an all-star tribute to the men and women who serve the United States. Performances by Mary J. Blige, Common, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Romeo Santos, and active duty military members U.S. Army Sgt. Christiana R. Ball, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Matt Smith and Capt. John Ed Auer. There also will be a performance by Daughtry via satellite of their USO concert at Yokota Air Base in Japan, as well as a live-viewing audience of troops from the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. Airs Friday, May 22, at 9 p.m.

Bringing the Fallen Home
Bringing the Fallen Home is the story of America's fallen warriors, their families, and those charged with the solemn responsibility of ensuring dignity and honor to the fallen and care and support to families of the fallen. The program gives a voice for family members to tell the story of their fallen loved ones and recollect their experiences at Dover Air Force Base for the solemn dignified transfer of their loved one's remains. More than 20 family members opened up their homes to the filmmakers and told their heartbreaking and heartwarming stories that remind all Americans of the great sacrifices made every day for America's freedom. Airs Sunday, May 24, at 3:30 p.m.

National Memorial Day Concert
Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise co-host the 26th broadcast of this night of remembrance honoring the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, their families at home, and all those who have given their lives for our country. The concert airs live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol before an audience of hundreds of thousands, millions at home, and to our troops around the world via American Forces Network. Airs Sunday, May 24, at 7 p.m.

The Homefront
View intimate portraits of America's military families, with unprecedented access to soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen and women in the all-volunteer military. The revealing documentary tells stories of pride and patriotism, sacrifice and resilience. Airs Sunday, May 25, at 8 p.m.

News from AETN PBS LearningMedia

Citizenship and Language – VideoImmigrants from Germany and Russia often faced the challenge of living between two cultures in the Northern Midwest. Some attempted to balance U.S and previous European ties; others completely rid themselves of their affiliation with a European nation. In this resource from Prairie Public Television, hear how descendants of immigrants from these countries describe how their families handled learning a new language and how they dealt with prejudice against the countries they came from. GRADES 2-8

Camp PBS LearningMedia – CollectionWhether you're running a sleepaway camp, working as a counselor at a day camp, or teaching a summer program at your school, we salute our teachers who are working with kids this summer! We've gathered some engaging, exploratory resources for you to use as you plan summer fun. This collection of resources is ideally suited for camp counselors and other summer staff looking for fun, educational activities to include in their daily schedule, as well as resources to help seed ideas for introducing topics to campers. GRADES PreK-13+

Building a Garden in a Day – VideoBelieve it – you can build a garden in a single day. In this second video of the How-to-Garden series, you will see that creating a garden doesn't have to be overwhelming. By following these guidelines, you will build a productive and healthy garden from the ground up in just a few hours. This video supports the Nature Works Everywhere Gardens curriculum that includes activity guides and the How-to-Garden video series. GRADES 6-12

Stay Informed

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